Sihon’s defeat, described in the previous chapter, compelled his ally Og to take the field and oppose the further advance of Israel. “He came out” against them. Perhaps also Josh. 24:12 affords a clue. Swarms of hornets harassed him and his people, and drove them 6dut of their stone houses and fortifications; they preferred meeting the chosen race in the open to the scourge of these formidable creatures. When God says, “Fear not,” he fights on our side.

Recent discoveries confirm these references to the many stone cities of Bashan, mentioned in verse 4. The country is covered with ruins. Porter says that 500 ruined places attest the nfight of the Amorites. The royal bedstead is thought to mean coffin or bier. Its length of 13% feet would infer a stature of 11 or 12 feet.

These victories opened fertile and beautiful pasture-

lands, including Hermon and Gilead. “The Lord delivered” . . . “and we took.”

Deuteronomy 3: 23—4:14. Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children whilst they went to succor their brethren. But

, ~“God’s commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.

Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God’s wondrous works, 3: 24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God’s .self-revelation.

Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the di-

Israel’s tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God’s will, in statutes, eluding the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters.

Deuteronomy 4:15-31. How often Moses repeats, “take heed.” We must watch as well as pray and keep our souls diligently. We must specially beware of idols —that is, any visible thmg which takes the place of the unseen and eternal, veiling it from our view. ‘The soul must learn to lean on the everlasting arm.

How true that description of the iron furnace! The metaphor is derived from the’ process of smelting metal. We have had our Egypts, where by ,trials the real ore of character was disintegrated from its rocky matrix. But though God may remove us from outward affliction, he is himself the furnace of purification, by his Spirit and Word, and in the secrets of our hearts, v. 24. But his fire burns our bonds, whilst our heads are unsinged, Daniel 3: 25. .

If these words meet the eyes of any who are among the scattered and vanished ones, let them seek God again, and they shall certainly find him; for he is merciful, he will not fail nor destroy, nor forget the olden Covenant, vs. 30, 31.